First written entry 1455 (≈ 1455)
Castle quoted in historical sources.
XIVe-XVe siècles
Construction period
Construction period XIVe-XVe siècles (≈ 1550)
Building of houses and defensive devices.
2012
Official protection
Official protection 2012 (≈ 2012)
Registration of items by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The château de la Motte-Béraud in its entirety (cad. A 509, placed the Petites Varennes), its water ditches (cad. A 509, placed the Petites Varennes), the soil of the plots At 509, the Petites Varennes, 510-511, took place the Motte, corresponding to the entrance of the seigneurial house, part of the lower courtyard, its courtyard, its platform, the part filled with ditches and the location of the chapel; the remains of the oven (cf. At 509, the Little Varennes took place); the Millet mot : terre, ditches and surrounding terrain (cad. A 245, 246, 354, 355, placed la Motte): inscription by order of 12 April 2012
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any names.
Origin and history
The Château de la Motte, mentioned in 1455, is a typical example of the strong houses built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It consists of a compact rectangular three-level house, served by a square staircase tower, and a partially shaved iron-to-horse tower, the main defensive element. The building, made of stone and covered with a high tile roof, rises within a semicircular enclosure with wide water ditches, reflecting its role both residential and protective.
The house has retained its original interior distribution, including a chevron-carrier-farm structure and comfort facilities typical of the time. The site also includes remains such as an oven and a castral mot (Mille Millet), surrounded by ditches and associated terrain. These elements, protected by a 2012 decree, testify to the strategic and seigneurial importance of the site, combining noble habitat and defence devices adapted to the tensions of the 14th and 15th centuries.
The castle, opened to the public on demand in July and August, illustrates the evolution of the fortified houses in Berry, a region marked by the transition between feudality and Renaissance. Its compact plan, water ditches and defensive tower recall the stakes of security and social representation of local lords at the end of the Middle Ages. The absence of a preserved chapel suggests, however, a vocation primarily residential and military, rather than religious or ostentatious.
The protection of the monument in 2012 covers the entire house, ditches, historical plots (bassyard, platform, site of the old chapel) and archaeological remains such as the oven. This inscription highlights the heritage value of a preserved architectural and landscape ensemble, offering a tangible testimony to the lifestyles and construction techniques of rural elites at the hinge of the 15th and 16th centuries.
